St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-30

and proceeded in the deliberate style of
old-fashioned story tellers:
'Forty years on the foot-board are not
apt to pass without some thrilling
episodes he began, land I've had my
share; but nothing ever made my cap
rise right Off my head and my heart sink
clear into my boots as did the event Pm
going to tell you about. 1t happened
dozen years or so ago. | was running
on the Lake Shore road then, from
Cleveland to Chicago. I'd lost my Job
as engineer, so | shipped as fireman
The engineer was a strong, wiry man,
considerably larger than myself, named
Zdel Franklin. He was called one of the
best engineers in the West, but was
trlfie eccentric. | had been running as
fireman with Ziel for several months,
when we started one night to take the
fast mail from Cleveland to Chicago.
at was drizZling, gloomy night, very
much like we've been having in New
York for a week, and darker than ton
OF Lackawanna coal. We had 313. the
biggest and newest machine ON the road,
and terror for speed. Our regular
engine. No. 2S2, had been stabbed for
repairs. Pm not naturally super
StltlouS, like most railroaders.
but the weather had made me kind O.
blue, S'pose, or my supper didn't set
NoioS anu 90 NC Oul VI UuG
Cleveland station at 1915 p. m.
couldn't help thinking about that thir-
teen III the engines number. Besides
it was early spring, the ground was soft
from the rain and the going was very
dangerous. Ziel seemed to be depressed
by the weather or something else, Just
as was. Wejogged On and on into the
lnky darkness at a steady pace of forty
five miles all hour. The heavy train of
four mail and express cars, two day
coaches and thee sleepers rumbled mo-
enormously behind us. Neither of us
had spoken for an hour. Ziel was watch
ing the track as if he expected it to fly
up and run away. l was conjuring up
more blue devils over the nasty night
and the presence of that unlucky tl1ir-
teen in the engines number.
Suddenly, just as / was wondering
for the odd hundredth time whether
there was anything in luck signs, any
way, Ziel jumped from his box and
threw open the furnace door. He stood
motionless for fully a minute glaring
into the fire.
'Oho? that's the way of it, eh?' he
cried at last, turning sharply to me.
The flood of light from the red-hot Goals
poured full on his face. The features
We're horribly distorted, and his eyes
bulged from their sockets. That's the
way of it, eh?' he repeated, glowering
fiercely at me.
"'I guess so, Ziel,' said I. not know
ing what else to say, and trying to force
a laugh. [ had decided that he was
drunk.
"sOho. that's it, eh?' he roared again.
1T is, eh? Ohio! l thought so. Well.
make up the fire then
Il was too astoniShed to stir for an in-
slant, as the fire needed no making up.
He noted my hesitation.
Make up that firer ne yelled.
Heap her up, and be quick about it,
dye hear
"Without word I threw in several
shovelS OF coal. Almost instantly the
steam gauge began to run up. Ziel
noted it complacently. He peered out
along the tracks again in grim silence.
Presently he turned and said with
fearful oath: Didn't l tell you to heap
her UP? She's freezing to death, man,
can't you see? Heap her up high, 1
tell you, or by the living God I'll toss
you in there to help feed the fiamesr
II threw in another small shovel of
coal and tried to shut the furnace door.
Ziel Sprang from his box, and grabbing
the shovel tossed in two or three BUSH
els more. Then he caught up the sledge
hammer and hung it on the safety valve.
My worst fears were realized. knew
that he was mad. We plunged more
The maniac at the throttle craned his
head from the cab window. As he drew
it back he muttered several times:
wen Keep her warm, poor thing; oh,
yes, We'll keep her warm; depend On
that
"He seemed to ignore my presence
entirely. Again he got down and
heaped more coal into the furnace.
Then as he sat down he pulled the
throttle wide open. The engine leaped
ahead with a furious bound. She
swayed from side to side like drunken
man, and the rig ratified as if palsy
stricken. Away we went like creatures
borne on the back of a demon.
"Once more Ziel got down and heaped
in coal. The engine fairly snOrted as
she lurched forward, now careening
over the uneven track, now righting
herself again and gaining fresh impetus
with every inch. On and on she rushed
into the midnight. Faster and faster
she f1ew-headlong oyer bridges, tear
ing around curves, plunging down
grades. whose red and green lights
glared at us an instant like the eyes of
kindred demons, and the next instant
were buried again in the black gulf,
| daShing over crossings and over roads,
on and still On we went with the swift
ness of whirlwinu.
II knew that there was freight not
| many miles ahead. In few minutes
we would inevitably dash into it, and
not a mothers son on either train could
be saved. The thought came upon me
with such an appalling rush that in
| voluntarily | reached out to blow the
whistle. With catlike quickness Zief
struck my hand down, and l fell over III
| heap on my box. The machine was
| rocking and tumbling about more wiIdly.
| than ever. The conductor evidently
| knew that something was wrong, for he
rang several times to stop. The maniac
| engineer only laughed, and tearing the
| bell from the roof, flung it through the
window. grew frantic. Ziel yelled TO
me to throw in more coal. A mOmead
| later he cried: ''Oho. / see, | SEED
| Warm her up, Bob, warm her up! I see
what's rObbing her of all her heat. In
| fix that all right. I'll fix that, YOU betD
| but before L could stop him he had
dashed through the front door of the
cab: The next instant the headlight
Mashed out-we were rushing along into
utter darkness. But snatched my ope-
portunity, terrified as l was. grasped
the whistle valve and began to blow the
alarm. Its first hOarSe below brought
back the maniac on the lump.
crouched as he sprang for me, and,
picking up the monkey wrench, struck
at him. The blow fell OH his breast.
LII half staggered him. but he rushed at
me again.
Just at that instant the baggage car
door opened and heard a shout and
saw men standing in the light, Ziel
halted as the glare fell upon his face
| sucha hldeOus face as never saw be-
fore, and pray heaven 1 may never see
again. Then he turned suddenly and
made another plunge in my direction.
was too quick for him this time. The